On 28 Jun 17 a Pit-Bull/Boxer dog belonging to Samantha J Burns, 20 Charles Street,  Newport, had been running loose.  One witness feared the dog and was actually chased into their home by the dog.  Sgt. McGilton made contact with Burns at her residence on 30 Jun 17.  Burns became agitated at Sgt. McGilton’s presence and stated her dog was not loose and she wasn’t dealing with this.  Burns advised it was her boyfriend’s turn to deal with this and went back inside her residence.  Verification of the dog registration/ownership was verified through the Washington County Auditor’s Office. A summons is being requested for Burns through Marietta Municipal Court for failure to restrain her dog.  This is the third time since 1 Jan 17 that Burns has been cited.

On 30 Jun 17 Lt. Hunter was dispatched to 28305 State Route 7, Marietta, in reference to an employee there dropping what was believed to be a vial of drugs.  Management advised that an employee, Curtis M. Wheeler, was observed dropping a small plastic vial. The vial contained a crystalline rock-like substance consistent with that of methamphetamine.  Wheeler advised Lt. Hunter that the vial was not his but later recanted his statement that he was holding it for someone.  At one point in the interview, Wheeler emptied his pockets, revealing a smoking pipe, which he again stated he was holding for someone.  Wheeler finally admitted to the items being his and that the rock substance was in fact methamphetamine.   Curtis Matthew Wheeler, age 23, 325 Smith Drive, Marietta, was placed under arrest for aggravated possession of drugs, and possession of drug paraphernalia and transported to the Washington County Jail for processing.

On 30 Jun 17 Deputies responded to the intersection of Millbranch and Braun Road, Belpre, in reference to Andrew Hill stating he was threatened by Timothy Staats as he (Staats) became aware of some personal information.  Hill reported that he went to Staats’ residence at 1602 Dugan Road to tell Staats to “man up or get out”. Hill was advised that Staats was on his way home and he left the residence on foot. After Hill fled the home, Staats drove by him on Millbranch Road and confronted him.   Hill stated he made a derogatory statement to Staats in which Staats asked him “Do you want to die?”  Hill stated that Staats pointed something at him, which was found to be a cell phone, at which time he ran into the woods and called 911 for help.  Hill stated further that Staats continued driving back and forth on the road yelling at him from the vehicle.  A summons for disorderly conduct is being requested for Andrew W. Hill, age 23, 7646 Leon Baden Road, Leon, WV, and Timothy M. Staats, age 30, 1602 Dugan Road, Belpre, due to their actions on this date.

On 30 Jun 17, Deputy Zide observed a Chevy truck pass his location with only one functioning headlight and no functioning license plate light.  Deputy Zide began to follow the vehicle to conduct a traffic stop.  Once stopping the vehicle Deputy Zide noted that the passenger, Shawn Thomas, seemed very nervous.  Thomas eventually stated that there were no drugs or weapons in the car, and volunteered for Deputy Zide to search the vehicle.   Deputy Zide asked the driver and Thomas again for consent to search, to which they agreed.  Once Thomas realized Deputy Zide was, in fact, going to search, he pulled out a small container with marijuana in it.  Thomas gave the container to Deputy Zide, stating that it was the only thing in the car before a search was conducted.  A citation for possession of a controlled substance was issued to Shawn Gale Thomas, age 48, 914 Front Street, Marietta, Ohio.

On 1 Jul 17 Deputies responded to Grandview Township in reference to a report of domestic violence.  Upon speaking with all parties it was determined to be unfounded.  Case closed.  (1504)

On 1 Jul 17 Deputy Zide was en route to Grandview Township in reference to a report of a pickup, with loud exhaust, hung up in James  Scott’s yard.  Scott advised he observed a vehicle tearing up the yard and then fleeing the scene.  Deputy Zide was then made aware of a hit-skip involving a vehicle matching the suspect vehicle in this investigation.  A short time later Deputy Zide was advised that a pursuit involving the vehicle was ongoing with another law enforcement agency, which ended after the vehicle was lost.  While patrolling in the area of State Route 260 a vehicle matching the same description was seen near Brownsville Road in which the driver failed to stop at a stop sign.  Deputy Zide then attempted a traffic stop, with the driver fleeing at a high rate of speed, well over 80 mph at times.  The truck exhausts were loud and hanging underneath the vehicle, dragging the ground, causing sparks to be emitted from the rear of the vehicle.  The driver continued using the full width of the roadway, leaving the roadway at times in turns.  An oncoming vehicle was observed leaving the roadway in order to avoid a collision with the fleeing vehicle.  The suspect vehicle eventually stopped near Shay Ridge Road at which time a stop was performed.  The driver, identified as Joshua Aaron Ewers, age 28, 3585 State Route 260, New Matamoras, was placed under arrest in which he requested an attorney upon being read his Miranda Rights.  Ewers had the odor of an alcoholic beverage on/or about this person.  There was damage to the vehicle as well as damage to the initial caller’s yard.  Ewers was charged with OVI, marked lanes, speeding, failure to yield at a traffic control device (stop sign violation), failure to comply with order or signal of police officer and criminal damaging.  Ewers was transported the Washington County Jail for processing.

On 1 Jul 17 Michael Simers, 1216 Weppler Road, Lowell, reported items removed from farm equipment on property they farm on Brownrigg Road, Palmer Township.  This case remains under investigation. (1303)

On 1 Jul 17 while patrolling Marietta Township, Deputy Zide observed a Subaru hatchback, bearing West Virginia temporary registration cross the right fog line twice in a sweeping turn to the right, and then cross the center divider line once while in the left passing lane.  A traffic stop was conducted in which the driver was identified as Troy Obrian Whitacker, age 23, 910 4^th Street, St. Mary’s, WV.  Whitacker’s eyes appeared glassy and bloodshot with an odor of alcoholic beverage coming from the vehicle.  The other occupants admitted to drinking this evening in which Whitacker was asked to take a series of standardized field sobriety tests, which he agreed to do.  Whitacker performed poorly on these tests and was placed under arrest for OVI and transported to the Washington County Jail for processing where he tested .198% BAC.

The following warrants were processed at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office:

Megan N. Wiggins, 204 E. Fifth Street, Williamstown, for probation violation, original charge theft.

Rachel N. Wilson, 7641 Pike Street, Mineral Wells, for probation violation, original charge illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs.

The following individual was sentenced recently in Washington County Common Pleas Court:

Matthew Schafer, age 38, 445 Dodds Run Road, Marietta, 4th-degree domestic violence, 180 days in county jail.

Hoyt Adkins, age 31, 215 Caywood Road, Marietta, 5th-degree complicity to commit grand theft, 30 days in county jail.

The following suspects were processed into the Washington County Jail between Friday 30 Jun 17 and Monday 03 Jul 17:

Curtis Matthew Wheeler, age 23, 325 Smith Drive, Marietta, for drug possession, a felony and drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor. Wheeler was arrested at Dimex by Lt. Hunter of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and processed into the Washington County Jail on 30 Jun 17 at 3:12 pm.

Justin Alexander Simpson, age 28, 309 Harmar Street, Marietta, for theft, a felony. Simpson was arrested at his residence by Patrolman Smith of the Marietta City Police Department and processed into the Washington County Jail on 30 Jun 17 at 5:30 pm.

Christina Beth Parsons, age 37, 172 S. Marietta Street, St. Clairsville, OH, for contempt of court order, a misdemeanor. Parsons was arrested on I-77 by Trooper Shirer of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and processed into the Washington County Jail on 30 Jun 17 at 10:33 pm.

David Michael Moore, age 41, 165 Pam Road, New Matamoras, on a warrant for failure to appear, a misdemeanor.  Moore was arrested Grandview Road by Patrolman Blamble of the New Matamoras Police Department and processed into the Washington County Jail on 1 Jul 17 at 1:11 am.

Melvin Lee Romeo, age 40, 420 14t Street, Parkersburg, for operating with expired operator’s license, failure to signal, fugitive from justice, parole violation, all misdemeanors. Romeo was arrested by Patrolman Gragan of the Marietta City Police Department and processed into the Washington County Jail 1 Jul 17 at 5:43 pm.

Troy Obrian Whitaker, age 23, 910 4^th Street, St. Marys, WV, for two counts of OOVI-alcohol and marked lanes, all misdemeanors. Whitaker was arrested on SR 7 by Deputy Zide of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and processed into the Washington County Jail on 1 Jul 17 at 11:04 pm.

Zachary Lowe Strickmaker, age 27, 11 Ranson Road, Athens, OH, for aggravated burglary, a felony.  Strickmaker was arrested on the Athens County Line by Trooper Shirer of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and processed into the Washington County Jail on 1 Jul 17 at 11:41 pm.

Benjamin Cole Laughlin, age 24, 202 Mushroom Lane, Arnoldburg, WV, for domestic violence, a felony, assault, obstructing official business and unlawful restraint, all misdemeanors. Laughlin was arrested at the Galley by Patrolman Richards of the Marietta City Police Department and processed into the Washington county Jail on 2 Jul 17 at 1:32 am.

Joshua Aaron Ewers, age 28, 3585 SR 260, New Matamoras, for OVI alcohol, speed, marked lanes, obeying traffic control device, fail to comply order/signal and criminal damaging/endangering, all misdemeanors. Ewers was arrested on Shay Ridge by Deputy Zide of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and processed into the Washington County Jail on 2 Jul 17 at 2:49 am.

Erika Denise Jones, age 31, 1076 Lexington Ave, Columbus, OH for trafficking in drugs, a felony. Jones was arrested on SR 7 by Trooper Knowlton of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and processed into the Washington County Jail on 2 Jul 17 at 10:11 am.

Cherelle Renee Jones, age 30, 3034 Woodway Road, Columbus, OH, for trafficking in drugs, a felony. Jones was arrested on SR 7 by Trooper Knowlton of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and processed into the Washington County Jail on 2 Jul 17 at 12:49 pm.

Ashley Nicole Still, age 22, 2412 Covert Street, Parkersburg, WV, for speed and failure to reinstate operator’s license, both misdemeanors. Still was arrested on I-77 by Trooper Mikes of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and processed into the Washington County Jail on 2 Jul 17 at 4:07 pm.

Jason Leigh Richards, age 39, 1067 Sealy Ridge Road, Vincent, for OVI, OVI .08, speed, OVI suspension, no seat belt, no child restraint and four counts of endangering children, all misdemeanors. Richards was arrested on SR 339 by Trooper Chesar of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and processed into the Washington County Jail on 2 Jul 17 at 6:27 pm.

Isaac Andrew Conner, age 24, homeless, on two warrants for breach of recognizance and assault, both misdemeanors. Conner was arrested by Patrolman Stump of the Belpre Police Department and processed into the Washington County Jail on 2 Jul 17 at 10:13 pm.

Joshua Thomas Clark, age 216 Phillips Street, Marietta, on a warrant for driving under suspension, a misdemeanor. Clark was arrested at his residence by Patrolman Bonnette of the Marietta City Police Department and processed into the Washington County Jail on 3 Jul 17 at 1:24 am.

Peyton Kyle Angelo, age 18, 11573 State Route 339, Vincent, for consuming underage, a misdemeanor. Angelo was arrested in Belpre by Patrolman Tewanger of the Belpre Police Department and processed into the Washington County Jail on 3 Jul 17 at 7:30 am.

Jerry Allen Mitchell, age 29, 5011 Kingwood Drive, S. Charleston, WV, for OVI, speed, drugs possession, and three counts of endangering children, all misdemeanors. Mitchell was arrested on I 77 by Trooper Quattlebaum of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and processed into the Washington County Jail on 3 Jul 17 at 7:38 am.

Carl Allen Thompson, age 45, Landings Trailer Court, Lot 17, Reno, for OVI, a misdemeanor. Thompson was arrested by Patrolman Dennison of the Marietta City Police Department and processed into the Washington County Jail on 3 Jul 17 at 1:44 pm.

There are currently 22 females and 88 males incarcerated in the Washington County Jail.